Pressure responsive valve device



March 27, 1951 ROCKWELL 2,546,678

PRESSURE RESPONSIVE VALVE DEVICE Original Filed April 11, 1941 lid '01! 1%)":

fdlmu'd Aoekwell,

Patented Mar. 27, 1,951

Edward A. Rockwell, Cleveland, Ohio 7, 7 Application February 17, 1943, Serial No. 476,245,

which is a division of application Serial No. 388,003, April 11, 1941. Divided and this application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,866

1 Claim.

My invention relates particularly to a pressure responsive valve device which is adapted to control the amount of the gaseous medium admitted and which, for example, is especially adapted for the operation of power units in connection with automobiles, airplanes, etc.

The present application is a division of my application upon Valve Apparatus, Ser. No. 476,245, filed February 17, 1943, Patent No. 2,388,220, granted October 30, 1945, which in turn is a division of my application upon Power Intensifier Valve, Ser. No. 388,003, filed April 11, 1941, Patent No. 2,398,252, granted April 9, 1946.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character for controlling the amount of air, for example, admitted to power units of the above character and so as, preferably, to control the hydraulic output pressures of the apparatus. A further object is to provide an adjustable means for this purpose which may be adjusted according to the altitude at which the engine is being operated or according to the maximum hydraulic output pressure desired to be attained. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the same hereinaften.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one form thereof in the accompanying drawings in which the figure is a vertical section of the air inlet device.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown an air inlet device having a pipe I05, for venting a vacuum operated hydraulic power device (not shown), in which there is provided means for adjusting the amount of air admitted at different altitudes at which the automobile is operated and so as to control the outlet pressure of the apparatus. In the figure I have shown connected to the air vent port I05 a screwthreaded tube I21 having a flared portion I28 provided with a flange I29 against which there is clamped a rubber diaphragm I30, having a central aperture I3I, by means of screws I32 passing through the diaphragm into said flange I29 and passing through a flange I33 on an air valve housing I34 provided with air ports I35. The upper portion of the housing I34 has a screw-threaded opening I36 through which there is arranged to pass an adjusting screw I31 provided with a knurled head I38. On the screw I31 there is a lock-nut I39 so as to hold in place above the housing I34, an air filter shell I40 filled with horse hair and which has a depending rim I41 so arranged as to leave an annular z air inlet I42 between the same and the flange I29 and I33. The adjusting screw I31 has a rounded lower end I43 which is received in a recess I44 in an air valve'plate I45 having a downwardly directed rim I46, the air valve plate I45 being pressed upwardly by a compressed spring I41 which is supported at its lower end on a shoulder I48 within the tube I21. The rim I46 is arranged to be adjusted into or out of contact with the diaphragm I so as to provide an air passageway I49 between the valve plate I and said diaphragm I30. The diaphragm I30 is supported in its uppermost position by a supporting ring I50 which is dished upwardly so as to receive a coil spring I5I seated at its lower end on a shoulder I52 in the inside of the flared portion I28 of the tube I21. When operating the automobile at high altitudes the spring I5I will be in its position of full extension with the plate I45 adjusted out of contact with the diaphragm I30, whereas at lower altitudes or where the output pressure applied to the brakes is to be lessened, the plate I45 will be adjusted into contact with the diaphragm 530 so as to compress the spring I5I more or less, as desired, according to the position of the screw I31.

In the operation of the apparatus, the adjusting screw I31 is arranged to adjust the air inlet plate I45 to any desired position according to the altitude at which the automobile is operating or according to the amount of the maximum output pressure desired to be applied to the brakes. In other words, when the automobile is operating at a high altitude, with consequent lessened atmospheric pressure, the plate I45 will be adjusted upwardly to a position away from contact with the diaphragm I30. When, however, the automobile is operating at a lower altitude, or when it is desired to decrease the maximum available pressure output supplied to the brakes, the plate I45 will be adjusted downwardly by the screw I31 until it contacts with the diaphragm I30 or until, by further adjustment, it compresses the spring I 5I to the point desired. Whereupon the diaphragm I 30 acts as a check valve to prevent more than the adjusted maximum desired pressure being obtained. Of course, when the apparatus is being operated to apply pressure to the brakes, the incoming air will in any case pass through the air inlet I42, ports I35, passage I49 and thence into the tube I21, thus applying to the diaphragm I30 a degree of the vacuum existing in the said hydraulic power unit. When the valve plate I45 has been adjusted into contact with the diaphragm I30, the incoming air pressure will move the diaphragm I30 downwardly by compressing the spring I5l.

It will be understood that instead of the port I05 being a vent this may be connected to a source of superatmospheric air pressure.

While I have described, my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without depart-- ing from the'spirit of the same.

I claim:

An air inlet device comprising a valve. housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamher, an apertured flexible diaphragm separating said chambers, a spring urging said diaphragm in one direction, a manually adjustable screw mounted in said housing, a valve member engaging said screw normally in contact with said diaphragm and arranged-to cooperate with the aperture in said diaphragm to control the pas;- sage ofair through said aperture, and a spring for holding said valve member in engagement with said screw.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file, of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 28,722 Whitaker June 12, 1860 1,380,787 Ellmauer June '7, 1921 1,608,618 Richards Nov. 30, 1926 1,887,515 Pulkinghorn Nov. 15, 1932 2,009,696 King July 30, 1935 2,290,151 Mcollim July 21, 1942 2,390,527 Flint Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country: Date 

